Classroom

Dudley Payton was born on
July 24, 1895, in Middlesex Virginia. He was a citizen of the United States but
due to the implementation of Jim Crow Laws, he was unable to vote. He came from
a poor family and did not receive much education, only completing grammar school.


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He took this grammar school education and joined the Navy
in October of 1913. Being African American again limited him and instead of
being given a combat role or training he became a Ward Room Steward. These men
would serve the officers their meals much the same way a butler would. Their
position existed only as a benefit of rank for the officers. There were some
perks to the job however. The men would hear conversations the rest of the crew
was unaware of and could have one on one conversations with officers. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He would server on the USS Mississippi, the USS Franklin,
and the USS Scorpion. It was his time on the Scorpion that was the most
noteworthy. In April of 1917 the ship was stationed in Constantinople, Turkey,
(Modern Istanbul) when the US declared war on the Central Powers, Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The Turks gave the Scorpion a 24-hour
notice to leave port, but the captain refused to leave American civilians
behind, and so the ship was interned for the duration of the war. He wrote of
his time in Turkey as being good. He and the crew were often restricted to the
ship for weeks on end but were still allowed to come ashore and see the city
once in a while. During this time Payton managed to learn French, both reading
and writing. This is an amazing accomplishment for any enlisted man at this
time let alone an African American one. Moreover, his English education was average
at best which surely put him at a disadvantage when trying to learn a new
language. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When the war ended he and his crewmates were returned to
the US. They were all awarded the POW award for their time in Turkey as well as
a Minesweeping award. Finally, at the time he wrote out his war questioner he
was still serving in the Navy which would suggest that he enjoyed his time. &nbsp;

Dudley Allen Payton was an African American man who joined the US Navy in 1913 at the age of 18. His job options in the navy were severely limited by the color of his skin, so he was assigned as a ward room steward. The ship he was serving on in 1917 was the USS Scorpion. The ship, along with its crew, were interned by the Turks when the US declared war. 

Dudley Allen Payton

Rediscovering and remembering the days of their youth and the city where it all happened. The BTW Class of 1969 will tour the City Of Norfolk and connect with their heritage.

The Willoughby-Baylor House (now the Norfolk History Museum) is a historic home built ca. 1794 by Captain William Willoughby, a local merchant, building contractor, and sixth-generation descendant of English immigrant Captain Thomas Willoughby. Thomas Willoughby received two-hundred acres of land from a 1636 Royal grant, fifty of which became the town of Norfolk, Virginia in 1682. This structure is three-bay, brick detached townhouse with a gabled roof. The home also features a Greek Revival doorway and porch, which is supported on two pairs of Doric order columnns; these architectural elements were added in the mid-1820s. The street name on which this structure is located, Freemason Street, is derived from the Masonic Lodge which occupied this lot prior to the home's construction. When William Willoughby died in 1800, his estate included 14 slaves, 10 lots, and six residences. Eliza Francis Sharp, the third of his four children, inherited the house. It was owned by the Baylor family until its sale in 1890. The new owners converted the home into a boarding house and the original furnishings were lost during the transition. The historic home ultimately fell into decline and was slated for demolition. However, in the early 1960s, the Norfolk Historical Foundation purchased and restored the property. Since 1969, the home has been administered by the Chrysler Museum of Art. It reopened as the Norfolk History Museum in 2005 and served as a satellite gallery of American Art during 2013 to 2014. Today, the Norfolk History Museum showcases both historical exhibits and artwork. Visitors to the museum can see artifacts that include such items as a cannon dating back to the War of 1812, as well as special rotating exhibits. The ground floor serves as exhibition space, while the second floor houses the Norfolk Rooms. Highlights of the second-floor gallery include silver pieces and paintings that were created by Tidewater artisans from the colonial period to the 19th century. The garden, designed by Siska Aurand Landscape Architects, was installed in 1991 and is based upon the current understanding of colonial landscaping practices.

Captain William Willoughby built this house in 1794, which is now used for special programs and exhibits by the Chrysler Museum of Art. William Willoughby was a descendant of early colonial settler Thomas Willoughby who in 1636 received a grant of 200 acres from the King of England. The house stayed in the family through the 19th century. As fewer families lived in the downtown area, the home fell into disrepair and would have been demolished had it not been for the efforts of preservationists and the Norfolk Historical Foundation. The Foundation restored the home, which now offers a variety of art exhibits, cultural programs, and occasional lectures related to the history of Norfolk. A highlight of the home, the land around the home is maintained in the manner common to colonial gardens.

Willoughby-Baylor House

James Coleman was born November 15th 1897. He was
born in Charlotte North Carolina to Samuel Coleman and Laure Simmone. He was a
Baptist and he was married to Leona Hart in Charlotte North Carolina. He had a
7th grade education. He was a porter before he entered the service
where he worked for Southern Express Co. 

Before he entered the service he lived at 100 N. Johnson St.
Charlotte North Carolina. After the war he lived at 366 E. Bute St. Norfolk
Virginia. He was inducted into the service on March 29th 1918 in
Charlotte North Carolina as a Private in the Machine Gun Battalion of the
National Army. He was originally assigned to the 15th Co. 4th
Battalion 155th Depot Brigade at Camp Grant, Illinois. He was trained
at Camp Grant from March 29th 1918 to June 9th 1918.

He was transferred to the 350th Machine Battalion
at Camp Upton New York on June 12, 1918. He embarked Mineola. L.I. New York on
the USS Vidock on June 28th 1918 and arrived at Brest France on July
20th 1918. From Brest he went to Nance and from there he went to
Belmont and then to St. Die, France. He was stationed in Belmont, France for
three months. He first went into action on December 29th 1918 in the
Argonne-Forest.

The engagements that he participated in where the St. Die
Sector, Argonne Forest, Marbase, A.E.F. from June 10th 1918 to March
6, 1919. He arrived at Mineola L.I. on March 1st 1919. He was
discharged from service at Camp Lee Virginia on March 18th 1919 as a
Private. His occupation after the war was as a Clerk at the Post Office. He was
indifferent towards military service.

He said about the effects on him of his overseas
experience that it “Increased efficiency and education improved”. On his
experience and its effect on his religious beliefs he said it “Increased faith
and caused renewed determination to dedicate life to God”. About the fighting
he said, “Brought face to face with death was surprised to find that I
experienced no fear”. About the effect on his state of mind he said, “Practically
no change expect to increase interest in Government affairs”.

This location is now the parking lot next to The First Baptist Church. It is now the Brambleton Lot. It is right across the street from the Norfolk Scope. It is also just down the street from Chrysler Hall The address use to be the address of James Coleman.

James Coleman

Paul Washington Alexander was born in Norfolk, Virginia on January 16th, 1889. What separates Paul Alexander from most of his African American peers is that he was a registered voter during time when it was almost impossible for American Americans to vote. Although, Paul Alexander education only reached the 7th grade, he still was a prominent member of American society. Prior to World War One, Paul Washington worked as a longshoreman on the Norfolk Naval Base. As a married man and an expecting father, enlisting into military service had to be a daunting task.&nbsp; During the war Paul Alexander enlisted in the United States Army as a rank of private on June 20, 1918. While most African Americans that joined the war effort during World War were given odd jobs due to their race. Paul Alexander actually enlisted as a member of the Army's infantry unit. He was stationed at Camp Alexander in Newport News, Virginia. Starting out as a private Paul Alexander ranked up to private 1st class on August 14, 1918. it is possible due to his mos being infantry, he was not chosen to go abroad during the war because America did not want to put guns in the hands of African Americans. Paul Washington Alexander can be described as a very patriotic man. He loved the United States of America although the United States may not have loved him. Once the war was over he continued to work at the Norfolk Naval Base as a longshoreman.&nbsp; A limited education did not prevent Paul Washington from serving his country nor did the color of his skin. Paul Alexander&nbsp;is not just a role model for the African American community but of America itself. During an era when most African Americans could not vote he made sure that he could, more importantly during an era his country did not love him he loved his country.&nbsp;

During a time of racism and prejudice, African American enlisted to fight during World War One. Paul Washington Alexander, of Norfolk, Virginia was a member of the United States army during the Great War. Although, Paul Washington had limited education and faced many prejudices during his life, he still embodied the feeling of patriotism and fought during the war. "My attitude was patriotic and I felt that my call to the war was a blessing from God to give me a chance to serve my government and country in its greatest crisis". 

Colored "White Hat" World War One 

The theater was named in honor of Crispus Attucks, an African American sailor in the colonial period and one of five&nbsp;American colonists who lost their lives&nbsp;in the Boston Massacre. The theater&nbsp;was designed by local Black architect&nbsp;Harvey Johnson and opened in 1919. The institution served as one of the anchors of Church Street, which was known as the&nbsp;"Main Street" of Norfolk's Black community in the first half of the 20th century.&nbsp;Although there are a handful of African American theaters and performing arts companies that predate the Attucks Theatre, it has the distinction of being the oldest remaining structure of its kind to be financed, built, and operated entirely by African Americans. The theater was operated by the&nbsp;Twin
Cities Amusement Corporation-an organization headed by Black businessmen that included theaters in both Portsmouth and Norfolk. The theater was constructed thanks to loans from two Black financial institutions, the Brown Savings Bank and the Tidewater Trust Company.&nbsp;The theater offered a respite from racial segregation that had been practiced in Norfolk long before it became required by law by the state legislature in 1926.&nbsp;After 34 years of operation, the theater&nbsp;closed in 1953. During those years, many famous African American singers such as Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, and Duke Ellington&nbsp;performed at the Attucks Theatre. The African American public schools in the region used the theater for graduation and other events, as did local organizations that provided educational and cultural opportunities for members of Norfolk's Black population.&nbsp;During its years as a theater, the building also held the offices of several Black physicians, attorneys, and other professionals--a function that continued after the theater ceased operations.&nbsp;In 1977, Congress declared that the theater was a&nbsp;National Historic Landmark, a designation that along with the actions of former vice-mayor Joseph N. Green, Jr.,&nbsp;may have saved the aging structure from demolition. Local residents were able to preserve&nbsp;the theater's&nbsp;original fire curtain, which was significant owing to the fact that it had been hand-painted to feature a dramatic scene depicting the death of Crispus&nbsp;Attucks.&nbsp;It would take many years to restore the structure, however.&nbsp;Thanks to several private-public partnerships,&nbsp;the building was preserved during the 1980s and eventually&nbsp;restored to its original glory. The theater&nbsp;reopened in 2004 and is one of the members of SevenVenues, the civic organization that operates Chrysler Hall, Wells Theatre, Harrison Opera House, Harbor Park, Scope Arena, and the Prism Theatre in addition to Attucks. Visitors and residents can click the links below to see the current schedule of events and&nbsp;shows being held at the Attucks Theater.

The Attucks Theater is the oldest theater to be built, financed, and operated by African Americans. The theater operated from 1919 to 1953, and thanks to the efforts of local preservationists and philanthropists, this historic venue was saved from possible destruction and has been restored so that it can once again host regional and national acts. During its first 34 years of operation, the theater was known to African American performers as "The Apollo of the South." The theater re-opened in 2004 and continues to serves as a performing arts theater.

Attucks Theatre

Norfolk State University was founded September 18, 1935 in the midst of the Great Depression as the Norfolk Unity of Virginia Union University. Its first class included 85 students. In 1942, the College became the independent Norfolk Polytechnic College and, in 1944, the Virginia Legislature issued an Act that made it part of Virginia State College (now Virginia State University). By 1950, enrollment had grown to over 1,000 students. Its first permanent building, Brown Hall, opened in 1955. The campus is located on the former site of the 50-acre Memorial Park Golf Course, which the city of Norfolk sold to the school for $1. Today, the campus encompasses 135 acres and 31 buildings. In 1969, the school separated from Virginia State College, becoming fully independent; it attained university status 10 years later. The NSU athletic teams are nicknamed the "Spartans," an identity adopted in 1952. The Spartans participate in NCAA Division I, the highest level of intercollegiate althletics sanction by the NCAA in the US, in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Green and gold are the official school colors. NSU offers undergraduate and graduate programs in eight different schools/colleges. These include the School of Business, School of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Engineering, Science &amp; Technology, School of Social Work, School of Extended Learning, Honors College, and the Graduate School. Norfolk State is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools amd offers 2 doctoral and 15 master's degrees. Additionally, NSU offers 36 undergraduate degrees, including the only bachelor's in Optical Engineering in the State of Virginia. NSU's motto is "Achieving With Excellence." The University's mission is as follows: <blockquote>Through exemplary teaching, scholarship, and outreach Norfolk State University transforms lives and communities by empowering individuals to maximize their potential, creating life-long learners equipped to be engaged leaders and productive citizens.1 </blockquote>The University is also home to the Harrison B. Wilson African Art Gallery, which is located on the 2nd floor of the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library. This unique collection supplements the multicultural learning experience of students with museum-quality African art pieces. The Gallery is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Norfolk State University (NSU) is a public four-year, coed, liberal arts university and one of the largest historically Black colleges in the country. Established in 1935 as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University, NSU became an independent college in 1969. NSU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Virginia High-Tech Partnership. It is also the home of the Harrison B. Wilson African Art Gallery, located in the school's library.

Norfolk State University

Herbert Ulysses White was born in Norfolk, Virginia on October 6th, 1896 to N.S. White and Lena Moore. He attended Norfolk High School on 15th Street, soon to be known as Maury High School on the renamed Shirley Avenue. After graduation, he attended Hampton University and was a member of the Tau Delta Sigma's Alpha Chapter. While still a student, White enlisted in army infantry and began his training at Camp Meade, Maryland on October 4th, 1918 and serving there until June 28th, 1919. Though originally attached to 40 Co. 154th Depot Brigade, due to his level of education and ability he was promoted from Private to Corporal on November 9th and transferred to Co. B 417th Reserve Quartermaster Corp on November 26th, 1918. There he assisted in administrative duties for the duration of his service, being promoted from Corporal to Sergeant on December 1st, 1919. After being released from service, White completed his degree and relocated to the economic boomtown that was Detroit where he lived and worked as a lawyer. The memory of World War I has begun to fade from our collective consciousness. The events and emotions of that conflict have been over shadowed by the wars that have happened since. During his military service, Herbert White faced complex emotions about race and democracy in the United States. When asked in 1920 what was his attitude towards his camp and overall military experience, he wrote "I didn't feel justified in going into the service to fight for so-called democracy which I could not myself enjoy as an American citizen."This sentiment was shared by many African Americans returning from what was touted as a war for democracy, a reality far from equal and democratic. Racism and increasing white nativism during and in the immediate aftermath of the First World War led to widespread violence and rioting in cities across the United States, including Norfolk, Virginia on July 21st, 1919. The experiences of African American soldiers in Europe and on the home front influenced the growing movement of resistance to Jim Crow on the part of the African American community. When asked about the effects of his experiences on his mental state, Herbert White responded that "the race prejudice displayed in camp breeded contempt in my heart." The First World War became an integral, yet unsung, influence on the future development of the Civil Rights Movement through the lives of men like Herbert Ulysses White.

Beneath the waving flags and patriotic rhetoric, there lies a nuanced experience of participation of African Americans in the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Herbert Ulysses White, a Norfolk native who lived at this address, attended Norfolk High School before going on to Hampton University. After the War, he finished his degree and went on to become a lawyer. 

African American Dissent in World War I

The Great War marked a large cultural shift in American views of military service. Service in the armed forces was no longer solely the domain of southern aristocrats from wealthy backgrounds. As calls went out for every citizen to do their part, military service became a means for Americans of diverse backgrounds to advance themselves in society. The contributions of African Americans, women, immigrants, and other marginalized groups to the war effort was critical in shifting societal views of these groups traditional roles, enabling later civil rights victories. Norfolk native John Webb Johnson expressed enthusiasm for his service in the army that was linked to this unifying view of military service. Johnson, an African American, served alongside white troops in France as a medic attached to Field evacuation hospital 4 neari Caigny. Johnson arrived at the front on July 18, 1918, and would see action in the Aisne-Marne, St. Michel, and Meuse-Argonne offensives leading up to the end of the war. Johnson viewed his selection in the draft with the exuberance of “every patriotic citizen”. Johnson’s time in the medical corps enabled him to receive extensive training, and was a confidence building and self actualizing experience for the high school graduate. Johnson described training as having a great physical and mental impact on him, and attributed a “new value and a new pride in [his] physical strengths” to his overseas experience. Johnson’s war experience certainly had a positive impact, though he is also not shy about sharing the less glamorized impact of the traumas of war on him. Unlike most Norfolk veterans of the First World War, Johnson does not describe his religious belief as having been strengthened by his time overseas. Johnson declared the impact of his war experience on his religious views as “difficult to describe or analyze”, suggestive of personal difficulty in aligning the brutality of war with his Roman Catholic upbringing. Johnson’s enthusiasm for service was tempered by the brutality of the Western Front, reflecting how “...weeks of bitter struggle, not only with the enemy, but with the elements as well” had left him with “something he is crying to let slip from his grasp.” This contrast in pre and post war attitudes that is evident in Johnson’s post war questionnaire would form the foundation of the philosophy of the Double V campaign that would emerge in the Second World War. The Double V campaign sought to win victory not only fascism and racism abroad, but also against the systemic racism and racially motivated violence African Americans faced at home. The Double V campaign argued that if Black Americans like John Webb Johnson were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom abroad, they ought to be guaranteed it when they returned home. Despite the work he did saving the lives of American soldiers of every race and creed in France, Johnson would return to heavily segregated Norfolk after the war, and be unable to access the same public facilities as the white servicemen he served alongside. Unable to find employment in the still heavily segregated medical field, Johnson would work as an artist after the war. His home at 1676 Church Street still stands today. <div> </div>

This marks the 1920 address of John Webb Johnson. Johnson was an African American who served with distinction in the US Army Medical Corps in France in World War 1. Johnson saw extensive action evacuating front line casualties. 

John Webb Johnson

Born on a Friday in March of 1874 William Augustus Stuart, lived in Norfolk, Virginia. Unlike most of his peers during this era of history William Stuart was an&nbsp;active voter. Although, society viewed him as colored man, he identified himself as colored but also part Indian. Although his age may seem to be a problem, his age came with experience. Unlike most of his peers William Stuart participated in the Spanish American War, therefore he witnessed first hand the victories and defeats of war. Unfortunately however, being that he was a colored man in the early 1900s prior military experience did not account for anything. William Augustus Stuart's journey to World War One is quite unusual. His age, prior war experience, and education, should have impact on his enlisting status in 1917. In contrast, William Stuart enlisted on April 26, 1917, as a first class cook. During the war however he did become an instructor for colored cooks. This position possibly a made up position given to William Stuart because of his prior war experience and age. While living on the ship during the war, William Stuart does state, the ship was attacked by Germans leaving him with permanent headaches. He finished his military career in 1920, he was 46 years old.&nbsp; His attitude towards the war is a direct reflection of his attitude towards America. "Believe it my duty to serve my country when needed. Also believe that all people should have military training." William Augustus Stuart was a highly educated man with war experience. In today's time he would have been a high ranking officer during the war. However, he was a colored man during World War One. Nonetheless his efforts did not go without vain.&nbsp;

During the Great War, the American youth was fascinated with the idea of serving one's country. So much in so, that thousands of young men lied about their age to serve. William Augustus Stuart however, was the complete opposite. William Stuart served in the United States Navy at the tender age of 43 years old.

Norfolk Hertaige Tour BTW Class of 1969

Dudley Allen Payton

Introduction

Backstory and Context